Following directions with gestures: how the skill grows from 12 to 20 months
Following directions with gestures means doing what you ask when the words come with a gesture, such as handing over a toy when you hold out your hand. The gesture carries meaning while the words are still being learned.
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Following directions with gestures: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Responds to the gesture. Hands over a toy when you hold out your palm, even before you speak.
Activities that fit this step
- Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps · 12–16 months · 3–8 min
- In and Out Basket Climb · 12–20 months · 5–10 min
- Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch · 12–22 months · 10–20 min
Next step: Word plus gesture. Puts a block in the box when you say "in the box" and point at it.
Activities that fit this step
- In and Out Basket Climb · 12–20 months · 5–10 min
- Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch · 12–22 months · 10–20 min
- Sofa Climb, Feet-First Down · 13–22 months · 3–8 min
Next step: Smaller gestures. Responds when you only glance or nod toward the place.
Activities that fit this step
- Sofa Climb, Feet-First Down · 13–22 months · 3–8 min
- Teddy Needs Help · 14–21 months · 5–10 min
- Cleanup Song Bucket Drop · 14–22 months · 3–8 min
Top of the ladder (smaller gestures). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy Needs Help · 14–21 months · 5–10 min
- Cleanup Song Bucket Drop · 14–22 months · 3–8 min
- Nose-to-Nose Mirror Game · 15–26 months · 3–7 min
The following directions with gestures ladder
4 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 20 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Watches your hands
Looks at your outstretched hand or follows your point with the eyes.
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Responds to the gesture
Hands over a toy when you hold out your palm, even before you speak.
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Word plus gesture
Puts a block in the box when you say "in the box" and point at it.
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Smaller gestures
Responds when you only glance or nod toward the place.
When following directions with gestures usually shows up
Following a direction given with both words and a gesture is a CDC 15-month milestone. By 18 months many children follow simple directions given in words alone, the next step on CDC's checklist.
This page follows following directions with gestures from 12 to 20 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month and 18-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 7 activities practise following directions with gestures (1 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 26 months. 5 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the 4-step ladder, most (4) on “Word plus gesture”.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 15 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve following directions with gestures. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 15 months | Follows a direction when you use words and a gesture together, like handing over a toy when you hold out your hand and ask for it. |
Activities that practise following directions with gestures
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 2 gross motor, 2 language, 2 practical life and 1 early concepts. Quickest to start: Nose-to-Nose Mirror Game (3–7 minutes).
Step 1: Watches your hands
Step 2: Responds to the gesture
Step 3: Word plus gesture
Step 4: Smaller gestures
Skills practised alongside
The activities for following directions with gestures most often also work on climbing on and off furniture (2), action songs (1), body parts (1), finger feeding (1) and imitating actions (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Pair each request with one clear gesture: open palm for "give me", point for "over there".
- Ask for things your child is nearly doing anyway, so success comes easily.
- Smile and say thank you when they follow, then let them choose what happens next.
What to avoid
- Repeating the request louder and louder; say it once more with a clearer gesture instead.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 15 months your child does not respond to simple requests that come with a gesture, or does not look where you point, raise it with the pediatrician.
Worried about following directions with gestures between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start following directions with gestures?
Following a direction given with both words and a gesture is a CDC 15-month milestone. By 18 months many children follow simple directions given in words alone, the next step on CDC's checklist. The first step to look for: looks at your outstretched hand or follows your point with the eyes.
How can I help my toddler with following directions with gestures?
Pair each request with one clear gesture: open palm for "give me", point for "over there". Ask for things your child is nearly doing anyway, so success comes easily. A good first activity is Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps (12–16 months).
What should I avoid when practising following directions with gestures?
Repeating the request louder and louder; say it once more with a clearer gesture instead.
When should I mention following directions with gestures to the pediatrician?
If by 15 months your child does not respond to simple requests that come with a gesture, or does not look where you point, raise it with the pediatrician. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.